Michel e



(N Model.)

' E. LAPORTE.

Apparatus for Cleaning Railway Tracks.` ,No..235g539- Patented Dec. 14,1880.

, N. PETERS. FHOTD-LFIHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D. CA

UNIT-ED STATES MICHEL E. LAPORTE, OFBORDEAUX, FRANCE.

APPARATUS Fou CLEANING RAILWAY-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,539, dated December 14, 1880. Application filed November 921880. (No model.) Patented in France July 12, 1880.

To alt whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MICHEL E. LAPORTE, master mechanic, a citizen ot' the Republic of France, residing at Bordeaux, in the said Republic, have invented a new or Improved Apparatus for Sweeping and Cleaning Tramway and Railway Tracks, of which the following is -a specification.

This invention relates to a sweeping apparatus adapted principally for use onrailroads and tramways; and it consists in the combination of a brush and a vertically-movable arm supporting said brush, said supportingarn'i being at the same time capable of lateral I5 motion, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

' This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l shows a front view of the apparatus as applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a detached view of a part thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 show, respectively, a front and side view of Va modification. Fig. 5 is a front view of` another modification. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of a brush.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

2 5 The letter d, Fig. l, designates one of the supporting-beams of a car. To this beam is attached a standard, e c, to which is fastened vone end of a spring, a.. The other end ofthis spring a is fastened to an arm, 7c, thus holding 3o the same in position, while said arm is at the same time free to slide up and down. This arrangement is desirable, as the body of the car is nearer to or farther from the track, according as it is heavily or lightly loaded, and the brush Z is by this device constantly kept in contact with the rail or track. The brush Z is further capable of vertical adjustment by means of the lever g swinging about the fulcrum t', and operated by a screw, h, or other 4o suitable means.

To allow free motion of the arm k, the end of the lever g, to which said arm is jointed, is slotted or forked, as shown in Fig. 2. The other end of the lever gis allowed a slight play in the end of the screw h, to which it is attached.

The brush L may consistof bristles of steel wire, galvanized-iron wire, brass wire, or similar materials. These wires are kept inl place 5o by means of a metal or other suitable plate bolted to the lower part of the arm k. The

central part of the brush sitting in the groove` of the rail is pointed at both ends, (see Fig. 6,) so as to readily pass the switches. The remaining part ofthe brush is adapted to throw the sweepings out and away from the track.

1n case the apparatus should be attached to the body of the car and between the front and rear wheels, it is necessary that the brush be capable of lateral motion, as in passing curves, where the body of the car occupies in relation to the curved track the position of a chord in a circle, the brush would otherwise not be in contact with the track.

As shown in Fig. l, the spring a and the slotted or forked end ot" the lever g permit sufticient lateral movement of the arm k to accomplish this purpose. Fig. 5 shows afront view of a modiiication.

To the car-frame d is firmly fastened a rod or standard, f. This standard f supports a cross-arm, n, having guides o o, in which the rod 19 is allowed to slide laterally. To this rod p is attached a tube, c c, consisting of two branches, one of which passes inside the other, and which are pressed apart by the spring r, thus holding the brush l, which is attached to the tubes c, down onto the track.

From the rod p rises an arm, k, which passes into a ring, m, which ring is rigidly attached to the standard f, thus limiting the lateral motion of the arm p and brush l.

1n Fig. 3 the cross-arm a is attached to a C-spring, b, which spring is attached to the standard f. The cross-arm fn. is provided with guides o o, in which slides a rod, p. To the rodp the brush l is rigidly attached. A ring, m, on the standard j', into which passes the arm 7c, limits the lateral motion of the arm p and brush. Z. Fig. 4 shows a side view of Fig. 3.

The brush should be surrounded by a spreader or plow of sheet-iron or other tit material, which will assist the brush in removing the `sweepings from the track, A dirt-screen in the form of a lamp-shade may also be placed about the brush.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an apparatus for sweeping tramways and railroad-tracks, the combination of a vertically-movable arm provided at its lower end IOO with a brush and pivoted or suspended at its upper end, whereby it is capable of swinging in a lateral direction with reference to the track to retain thcbrush thereon, and a spring acting 0n the brush to keep it in contact with the track, substantially as described.

2. In a track-cleaner, the combination, with a Vertical arin pivoted or suspended at ita` upper end and capable ot' vertical and lateral swinging movements, of a spring-impelled brush attached to the lower end of the said arm, and having its brushingedge shaped to conform t0 thc groove in the track, whereby 

